Offshore staff
LONDON -- Exploration activity is continuing over the deepwater Rovuma Offshore Area 1 block off Mozambique, following last year’s gas and oil discoveries.
According to partner Cove Energy, 1,600 sq km (618 sq mi) of new 3D seismic data have been acquired in the Quirimbas area operated by Anadarko in the southern portion of the concession.
A fasttrack cube of this data should be available during the summer. The aim of the survey is to identify good-quality reservoir sands on the migration pathway from the oil source kitchen revealed by the Ironclad well.
In mid-April, the survey vessel started acquiring 2,448 sq km (945 sq mi) of new 3D seismic data over the Cabo Delgado area in the northern section of the block, adjoining the gas discoveries at Windjammer and Barquentine.
Final processing and integration into the existing 3D database, which may not be completed before early 2012, should help the partners analyze the block’s ultimate potential with greater certainty.
There should be a resumption of exploratory drilling in late-2011 following the arrival of a second rig, the Deepwater Millennium, probably for appraisal drilling and testing, with the Belford Dolphin returning for further wildcats.
To date drilling has led to gas discoveries in the Palma gas field and at Tubarão, and oil in Ironclad. Other priority targets for wells include Atum, Orca and Trawler, and Barracuda.
Cove adds that results from the new 3D program should also help better define the Caravel, Black Pearl, and Bireme prospects in the south of the block, the Linguado and Golfino prospects in the northern area, and various Miocene targets in the northeast.
05/24/2011
